Maternal Mental Health Research Collaborative
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MMHRC Blog

Alicia’s Story: Nothing About Motherhood Came Naturally to Me

After five years, I’ve lost most of the guilt that I’ve carried around for far too long; the shame that accompanies missing out on the first nine months of your baby’s life. Physically I was there and in the eyes of most observers, I was a wonderful, loving mother. Love him – I did –…

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Kasia’s Story: Life Got Very Real, Very Fast

I had my first babies at a much later age than most women – I was 36. For me getting pregnant was not the easiest thing to do. Thankfully after almost 10 years of trying, we got pregnant with twins – a boy and a girl.  Life couldn’t be any better, right? Struggles with Infertility…

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Katie’s Story: My Experience Made No Sense to Me

I’m an average woman. I’m a nurse who went away to college for four years and I’m married to a wonderful man. We make a decent living, and I have a great group of friends I’ve stayed close with since college. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be in a situation where…

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Lauren’s Story: Panic Attacks are Never Normal

Mom and Dad with new baby

“Oh my God, I know how women hurt their babies!” I cried as this thought replayed in my head over and over, while I held my screaming baby at arm’s length. My husband took my daughter, and I collapsed into my bed. “I need help. There is something seriously wrong with me,” I said through…

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Beth’s Story: My New Normal Now Includes Mental Illness

My pregnancy was blissful with very little morning sickness or fatigue. I had perfect blood work and perfect ultrasounds. Everything was perfect, perfect, perfect.  My body was doing exactly what it should do and my baby was growing beautifully. There Were Still Risk Factors I had absolutely no depression, and just general (normal) worry about…

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Alexis’ Story: Intrusive Thoughts Became My Norm

My story starts with a birth no mother would ever wish for. If I’m being honest, my first encounter with intrusive thoughts occurred after the birth of my first son, but thankfully they were less traumatic and short-lived. No one could have ever prepared me for what I’d experience with my sweet Leo. An Early…

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Lacey’s Story: I Felt Let Down By My Body

At 17 I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My doctor prescribed me 10mg of fluoxetine; a tiny little pill made all the difference. I knew postpartum depression would be an issue for me, and I was prepared. Or so I thought. What I wasn’t prepared for was PTSD, thanks to being induced at 41…

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Alison’s Story: When You’re in a Fog…You Don’t Know You Need Help

Mom with baby in NICU

My name is Alison, I’m 37 years old and a first-time mom. My baby was born two months early. I think to people who haven’t had kids born early (like me at the time) you just think the experience must be a bit surprising. Maybe you didn’t have the hospital bag packed yet, or you…

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6 Good Reasons Why Moms’ Mental Health Matters

Women’s issues get pushed to the side, especially those that are about our health and well being. Whether it’s drug trials that only use men as study participants or a lack of coordinated resources to address mental health – women and moms are an afterthought. But this week – Maternal Mental Health Week – we’re…

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